Method of shelling coconuts



April 26 1927.

F. R. SCHMITT METHOD OF SHELLING COCONUTS Filed June 5. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY 1927. Apnl F. R. SCHMITT METHOD OF SHELLING COCONUTS Filed June 5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1/1. ylllll flllll/ llz Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

SGIEItIII'JHL', F BROOKLYN, YOBEJASSIGNOB 'Ib M31051! MACHINE AND FOUNDRY COHPAJHY, A COBPOBATIOH OE NEW amnion or snnrmme cocoms.

Applieation filed June 5,

This invention relates to a method of shelling coconuts; that is, of removing the hard shells, from the nuts without injuring the latter. The method consists in steaming the shell to loosen it from the nut, and then removing said shell by breaking it at predetermined places. Usually, the shell is the same way. In Figs. 1 and 2, end and side elevations of a coconut are shown in position for weakening or grooving, one continuous and two transverse grooves to be cut in this instance. Figs; 3 and 4 are end and as side elevations of the coconut after being ooved by the saws shown in Figs. 1 and 2. ig. 5 is an enlar d cross-section of the cuts made by the toes shown in Fi 1 and 2. Figs. 6 and 7 are end and side e evations of a coconut showing the 'saws in position for two continuous cuts and six transverse cuts.

Figs. 8 and 9 are end and side views of the coconut after being grooved by the tools shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Fig. 10 is an enlar ed cross-section of the crosswise cuts ma e by the saws shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross-section of the transverse cuts made by the inclined saws shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of the steam-chamber in which the shells are loosened from the nuts, showing the rooved shells exposed to the live steam. ig. 13 is a side view showing the manner of pryin apart the shell sections. along its weakene parts when the shell has one crosswise and two len hwise cuts, as in Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 14 1s a side view showing the manner of removing the shell end sections of a coconut with two crosswise cuts, as in Figs.'8 and 9. ,And Fig. 15 is a side view showing the manner of tying apart the shell middle sections of t ecoconut shown in Fig. 14.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2. 6 and 7: Forthe first or weakening'operation, the coconut 16 is first revolved around its longitudinal axis an. Serial no. 113350.

while being held against one or more saws 17 placed perpendicular to that axis. The saws 17 are provided with .guard'plates 18 to prevent them from cutting entirely through the shell. The inner part of the shell 19 is thus left intact in order to protect the nut inside, marked 20 (see crosssections, Figs. 5 and 10). After havingmade a com lete revolution around its longitudinal axis, thereby producing the continuous groove '21, the coconut is next held against one or more saws 22, either parallel or inclined to the longitudinal axis, and is turned on an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, Fig. 1 showing one air of diagonally placed parallel saws 22 or clitting a single lengthwise groove into .each side of the shell, and Fig. 6 three pairs of inclined saws 22 for making three parallel lengthwise grooves 24 into each side of the shell. The lengthwise cuts 24 are not carried around the entire circumference of the coconut, but stop some distance from its points, their object being to cause the spreading of themiddle section of the shell as 80 to facilitate its removal from the ends.

The lengthwise cutting saws, like the crosswise cutting saws, have guard plates 25 which prevent the saws from cutting too deeply. In Fig. 11, the crcss=sectionof a cut made by one of the inclined saws 22 is shown. The slotted coconut after the first operation has the appearance shown in Figs. 3, 4, 8 and 9, according to the number of cuts employed.

It ma be here remarked that in carrying the met od into effect, the device forhold, ing, and slotting the coconut may either be arranged so as to hold the saws in stationary position and turn the coconut zor to hold the coconut in stationary osition while the saws move around it. or the len thwise cuts, one saw may be used and eit er the saw or the coconut successively set at the difi'erent angles to make the various cuts, or two or more saws may be employed simul-. taneously to cut down the time of opera-- tron. After being grooved or otherwise weakened, the coconuts, for the second 0 oration, are placed in a steam chamber 26 avin a steam inlet 27, steam outlet 28, and t e cover 29 wfidisis preferably a'rangeld with ro'ectin oo 30 e ange u 31 st the climber, so i l i at iz hg latter cad: be 1m cover through a small angle.

quickly opened and closed by turning the chamber is a perforated late 32 on which the coconuts, or a part 0 them, rest while .beingsteamed, the plate 32 preventing condensation water from remaining in contact with the coconuts duringlthe steaming o rationand'thus to counteract the expan ing efiect of the superheated live ,steam. Thev steam, under approximately 60 lbs. pressure,'when the coconuts are kept dry, expends the slots cut in the shells and thereby,

-pa.rtly at least, loosens :the latter, the degree of this actlon depending upon the kind ofcoconut treated, as those town in different parts of the world difi'er consider-v ably as to the texture. and adhesiveness of their shells. shellsfrom the nuts within.

The steamed coconuts are now subjected to the third operation. or step in the method;

f that is, to the'actual shelling. If the coconut is of a size and variety 'tonecessitate only one'crosswise and one air of len hwise cuts, as in Figs. 3 an '4, the prying by means of hooks 33 inserted inv the expandeg. slots and pulled apart,a's shown in In case of two continuous crosswise cuts, as in Figs. 8 and 9, the shellingoperation consists in first holding the mi dleof the coconut by means of clamps 34, Fig. Hhand In twisting, theyend r'tions of the she oppositedirections y means of grippers 35 pressed against the ends of the coconut. To remove the middle sections of the shell, the

loosened-endlportions are put back on the coconut and t grip ere-35 as shown in Fig. '15. Station.-

ary olding lates 36% set at anangle corree latter clamped between the spondingwit that o the saws 22 In Fig. 6

are then inserted in the inclined axial slots,

and the two.grippers 35 areturnedas one,

- so as to force the middle sections of the shell towards the-holders 3 6. Or, the'gri pers 35,

after being ressedagainst the en of the reconstric ed upon a revolubleframror caggturned in the directionoppoeitetethat shown by h ows 1 he tirre sha an 1 Within the The steam also loosens the coconut, may be held statinm. ary and the plates 36 which'arethen mount-.25

' The shells are thus removed from the nuts: without injurin the latter in the least, and far more rapi 1y than is possible by the hand methods heretofore employed.

Whatis claimed is: Y 1. The method of shelling a.. coconut, which consists inweakening a part :of its shell to control subsequent breakage, then steaming said shell to loosen it from the nut, and then removing said shell by breaking it at its weakened part.

' 2. The method of shelling a coconut, which consists in linearly weakening its shell to control. subsequent breakage, then steaming. saidshell to loosen it from the nut, and then removing said shell by breaking it at its weakened art. 3. The met 0d of shelling a coconut, which consists in circumferentially weaken ing its shell tocontrol subsequent breaka e, then steaming said shell to loosen it from t e nut, and then removing said shell by breaking it at its weakenedpart.

4."-The. methodv of shelling a coconut, which consists in llnearly weakening its shell in a plurality of directions to control subsequent breakage, then steamin said. shell to loosen it from the-nut, an then removing said shell by breaking it at its weakened part. i 1

5, The method of shelling a coconut,

which consistsin linearly cutting its shell nearly through to weaken it and control subsequent breakagg, then steamin said shell 'to loosen it om the nut, an then removing said shell ;by breakingit at its weakened part.

. 6. The method of shelling a coconut, I

which consists in weakening a art of its shell to control subsequent bre age, then. suliectm'g said shell to the actlon of steam 1 un er pressure to loosen it from the nut, K

and then removing said shell by it at its weakened part.

7.-.The method of shelling a coconut, which consists in linearly cutting its shell 'nearlythrough to weaken it and control subsequent breakage, then subjecting said shell to the action of steam under approximately 60 lbs. ressure to quickly loosen. it from the nut,';an .then removing said shell by breaking-it at its weakened art; In testimonywhereo name to this specification.

. f FRI'ANK-RQSCHMITT.

breaking ice I have signed my 

